Gardai have not yet fully confirmed the identity of the victim, who was found in the bathroom of his home with a large kitchen knife in his chest. But they are satisfied he is a Dutch national of Moroccan origins.

The man had been dead for several days and gardai think he is likely to have been killed at the weekend. Officers have a name for the victim but have not yet officially confirmed it.

The victim, who is in his 30s, was found in the first floor apartment of the Linnbhla complex in Ballymun on Wednesday.

Officers are following certain lines of inquiry, but a man they are anxious to question has disappeared and thought to no longer be in the country.

His description has been circulated to other police forces overseas.

Gardai believe the deceased may have known his killer and there were no signs of a break-in at the apartment. Local residents said they were perplexed by the man's violent death.

The apartment remained sealed off yesterday as officers from the technical bureau at garda headquarters continued their examination of the scene.